Self-defense
caters to women only
By Christine G. Adamo
On-line Forty-Niner
Men
need not apply.
Cal State Long Beach crime statistics report
an equal number of on-campus sexual assaults
on women and hate crimes based on sexual
orientation on men between 1998 and 2000.
Even so, the Women’s Resource Center hosted
a three-and-a-half hour self-defense workshop
Monday night that was closed to men.
“Men often have experience with body contact
sports,” WRC Assistant Director Lynne
Coenen said Friday. “They have an understanding
of how their bodies work in this way, physically.”
Coenen said she is willing to help design
a self-defense program that addresses the
needs of alternate populations on campus
that may be at risk of being attacked.
“Men haven’t requested a WRC-sponsored program
on campus and our focus is really on helping
women feel safe and less vulnerable,” Coenen
said.
Sharon Hamilton of S.H. Defense Programs,
who led Monday night’s workshop, has taught
self-defense techniques to women and men
at risk of attack for more than nine years.
“This program is specially designed for
women,” Hamilton said. “I teach males personal
security awareness versus physical awareness.
Those at highest risk are homosexuals and
persons with disabilities who might feel
vulnerable to attack.”
Hamilton said that a successful workshop
of this kind should promote a three-pronged
defense strategy.
“Awareness and assertiveness can prevent
up to 80 percent of all assaults,” she said.
“Being aware of one’s surroundings, of the
discomfort you feel in proximity to someone
who appears to pose a threat, and honoring
gut feelings can do a lot to prevent a physical
confrontation.”
When awareness and assertiveness are met
with a would-be attacker’s insistence, Hamilton
suggests physical action.
“Sometimes women are shy,” Coenen said of
her experience with women who have previously
been assaulted. “If they’ve had a bad experience,
even the neatest guy can seem threatening.”
A statement by the Los Angeles Commission
on Assaults Against Women supports the notion
that women are currently more vulnerable
to sexual assault than men. The commission
touts gender-specific training as the best
way to honor the varying experiences, strengths,
and capabilities of male and female participants.
Male and female students seeking self-defense
training can obtain a referral from the
WRC in LA3-105, or call Hamilton at (562)
868-7168 for more information.
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